Ryan Tedder Finds His Voice

Adele's behind-the-scenes hitmaker is striking out as the frontman of OneRepublic.

"Ninety percent of the time he's singing about what he's going to do to you," says songwriter, producer, and OneRepublic front man Ryan Tedder of the typical male pop artist. "And I just think that's so funny." You'd probably find that comical too if you were the man combing the emotional spectrum to write huge hits for the record industry's female megastars. Adele's "Rumour Has It" and "Turning Tables"? They helped him win a Grammy for her album 21. "Already Gone," by Kelly Clarkson? That was him. "Halo"? He wrote it for Beyoncé in three hours.

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"I've always skewed to my emotional side," Tedder says. "I think that's where you find better music. And when guys are scared to pull back the curtain, women go for it."

With that kind of liberty, Tedder, having established his own emo-pop fan base with OneRepublic (which released its third album, Native, in March), is able to push artists to aural and lyrical limits on tracks that are as affecting as they are addictive. "When Adele and I did 'Rumour,' there was skepticism because the arrangement is completely bonkers. But sometimes the safest thing is actually the riskiest thing, and that pays off." These days, Tedder is working on "some amazing things" with a few highly established women (details are under wraps) while also trying to spin gold for Birdy—"She's unfairly talented for her age," he says of the 16-year-old Brit newcomer—and the quintet Churchill, which toured with P!nk this spring.

And, yes, he does still ink a chart topper or two for the guys (Maroon 5, Gavin DeGraw, the Wanted). When asked if he feels a responsibility to turn starters into stars, his humility forsakes his track record. "I'm just trying to service the artist as best I can. I can't get bogged down in the success. I just want them to be as inspired as I am."